Railroad frog and switch thawing device



I June 25, 1929. H. ADAMS RAILROAD FROG AND SWITCH THAWING DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Henry fldamd.

June 25, 1929. A .H. ADAMS 1,718,271

RAILROAD FROG AND SWEETCH THAW-ING DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 17.5. v fia' INVENTOR fii'nry fldarms,

units STATES l atented June HENRY ADAMS, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

RAILROAD FROG AND SWITCH'THAVIING DEVICE.

Application filed August 5, 1925. Serial No. 48,250.

This invention relates to fuel burning heating means or devices for keeping parts of railroad switches and cross-overs free from snow and ice, though it is noted that the invention is not limited to the particular heating means described nor to use with railroads or the other uses stated hereinafter. 7

One object of the invention is to provide an apparatus or device which will warm the parts of rails, switch points and the like liable to be obstructed with snow or ice, thus to prevent any interference with their proper operation and use, at the same time in no way injuring the ties, electrical connections or other fixtures.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus or device of this kind which may be used to clear streets, gutters, drains and the like of snow and ice.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus or device of this kind which may be controlled from a central station or other distant point.

Another object of the invention is to provide a suitable furnace or heating means for the above or other purposes, which will use oil, powdered coal, colloidal fuel, gas or the like.

Other objects of the invention are to improve generally the simplicity and eflicicncy of such devices and their uses and to provide a device or apparatus of this kind which is durable, economical to manufacture and operate and which will not get out of order.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described, the invention is not limited to these since many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objects are shown herein in connection with a railroad switch and an improved heating means or furnace which, briefly stated, include a railroad switch comprising rails having movable points, and a frog; and a plurality of furnaces for projecting flame at the top of, or just above the top of the rails at the points and the frogs.

The invent-ion is also described in connection with a gutter and a trench, and also in connection with a truck for clearing streets of snow and ice.

In the accompanying drawing, showing by way of example, one of many possible embodiments of the invention.

Fig. l is a diagrammatic fragmental plan showing the heating means as applied to parts of a railroad switch;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic transverse vertical sectional view, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig.1, looking in the direction of the arrow of said line; i

Fig. 3 is a fragmental plan showing the furnace; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken on the line 4 l of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow of said line.

My improved furnace is shown in combination with a railroad switch comprising rails 10, 11, 12 and 18 having movable switch points 14 and 15, and a frog 16 at the crossover between rails 11 and 12; though it is noted that the invention is not limited to switches or crossings.

In Fig. 11 show a plurality of furnaces 17, 18, 19 and 20 for projecting flame at the top of, or just above the top of, the rails at the points 141 and 15 and the frog.

Each of said furnaces comprises abasc (Figs. 8 and 4) adapted to be secured by screws 26 upon the cross tic 27 substantially parallel to the rail 10 and provided with a trough 28 of approximate U-shapcd crosssection, disposed longitudinally of the base, and laterally inclined to open toward the space just above thetop of the rail. The end wall 29 of the trough may be omitted if desired. A torch or blow-pipe burner 80 (Fig. 3) has its body portion 81 provided with the tip 32 pointing toward, and coaxial with, the trough 28. The lateral fuel inlet 33 and the body portion are both seated in burner seats or chairs 3% and 35 and are fed by fuel and air or steam pressure supply pipes 36 and 37 connected to their rear ends. Straps 38. 39 and 40 bolted on said seats hold the burner and pipes in place.

A low level tank (Figs. 1 and 2) is provided, into which the fuel supply pipe 47 connected to the pipes 36 extends. Compressed air or steam supplied from a suitable source (not shown) to a main 18 connected to the pipes 37 passes through the burner and draws the fuel from the tank,

by injector action, and projects it in atomized form into the trough. A spark plug 50 mounted in a wall of the trough has its sparking points 51 and 52 within the trough near the inlet end, for igniting the fuel to form a flame. One of the points, 52, is grounded on the trough; and electric con ductors 53 and 54 respectively lead from a suitable source of current, to the terminal 55 of the ungrounded sparking point, and

to the grounded sparking point, through a ground 56 on the rail or other suitable location; though obviously the invention is not thus limited.

The side walls of the trough serve to guide the flame away from the cross ties or electrical or other conductors and fixtures, and to the top of the rail and the space just above to prevent the accumulation of ice and snow.

The operation of the device is simple and obvious. \Vhenever there is danger of freezing or clogging with snow, the operator turns on the compressed air or steam, thus drawing fuel from the tank and atomizing it in the trough. Current is then caused to pass through the conductors and 54-, causing electric sparks to ignite the atomized fuel. The flame will then be projected along the trough and from the open side thereof against or over the top of the rail, thus preventing the formation of snow or ice.

All of the pipes and electrical conductors may lead from a single central station from which an entire freight yard may be con trolled. While herein I have shown only an oil installation rather than one employing other fuels, the invention is obviously not thus limited.

Then the furnace is used for preventing the accumulation of snow and ice in gutters, drains, trenches and the like, it may be suitably mounted in the required numbers where the flame will play on or near the parts affected. l/Vhen used for cleaning streets of snow and ice one or more of the furnaces are mounted upon a truck or the like in position to cause the flame to play upon the roadway.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a cross tie; a rail thereon; a trough substantially parallel to the rail and inclined toward the top of the rail; a torch burner pointing toward and substantially coaxial with the trough; means for supplying fuel and fluid under pressure to. the burner; a spark plug mounted in a wall of the trough having its sparking points, one of which is grounded on the trough, within the trough near the inlet end, for igniting the fuel to form a flame; the sidewalls of the trough serving to guide the flame away from the cross ties or electrical or other conductors and fixtures, and to the top of the rail and the space just above to prevent the accumulation of ice and snow; and conductors for leading from a source of current to the terminal of the spark and grounded.

2. A furnace comprising a base adapted to be secured upon a support and provided with a plurality of burner seats, pipe seats, and a trough of approximate Ushaped crosssection, disposed longitudinally of the base, and laterally inclined; a torch or blow-pipe burner having a body portion pointed toward and coaxial with the trough, and a lateral fuel inlet both seated in said burner seat-s; supply pi yes-connected to the rear ends of said body portion and fuel inlet; and straps bolted on said seats for holding the burner and pipes in place.

3. In combination, a railroad switch con'1 prising rails having movable points, and a frog; a plurality of furnaces for projecting flame at approximately the top of the rails at the points and the frogs; each of said furnaces comprising a trough substantially parallel to and inclined toward the top of the rail; a torch burner pointing toward and substantially coaxial with the trough; an air pressure supply and a fuel pipe extending to the burner; and a low level tank into which said fuel pipe extends, whereby the air passing through the burner draws the fuel from the tank and projects it in atomized form into the trough.

l. In combination, a railroad switch com prising rails having movable points, and a frog; a plurality of furnaces for projecting flame at the top of the rails at the points and the frogs; each of said furnaces comprising a base adapted to be secured upon the cross tie substantially parallel to the rail and provided with a plurality of burner seats, a pipe seat, and a trough of approximate U-shaped cross-section, disposed longitudinally of the base, and laterally inclined toward the space just above the top o the rail; a torch or blow-pipe burner having a body portion pointed toward and coaxial with the trough, and a lateral fuel inlet both seated in said burner seats; supply pipes joining the rear ends of said body portion and fuel inlet; a low level tank into which said fuel pipe extends, whereby the air or steam passing through the burner draws the fuel from the tank and projects it in atomized form intothe trough; a spark plug mounted in a wall of the trough having its sparking points, one of which is grounded on the trough, within the trough near the inlet end, for igniting the fuel to form a flame; and conductors for leading from a source of current to the terminal of the spark and grounded.

Signed at Plaintield in the county of,

Union and State of New Jersey this 3rd day of August A. D. 1925.

HENRY ADAMS. 

